Sheriff Jimmy Davis is losing three “heroes” this month as Uncle Sam and the Tennessee Army National Guard (TANG) gain three members of the Loudon County Sheriff’s Office (LCSO) for a nine-month deployment to the troubled and dangerous Middle East.
278th ACR arm patch
All three are part of the TANG’s 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, some 900 soldiers strong. They are in the G Troop of 60 to 70 soldiers based in Crossville, Tennessee. The LCSO heroes heading out are:
- Chief Deputy Zac Frye, No. 2 to Davis. Frye is a captain and commands a 278th ACR tank company. He enlisted in the National Guard 14 years ago right after graduating in 2014 from Tennessee Tech. He’s been part of the LCSO for almost 10 years.
- Detective Sgt. Shane Gaumer, 35, is a specialist and a “loader” for the four-member crew of the N1A2 Abrams tank. He loads the ammunition rounds on every weapon system in the tank’s arsenal.
- Corrections Officer Bo Jones is a specialist and a tank driver on the Abrams.
“These deputies have shown unwavering dedication in protecting our community but also in their commitment to serve our country,” said Sheriff Davis. “Your thoughts and prayers for them mean the world to these heroes and their families. We look forward to their safe return and thank them for their sacrifice and service. Godspeed, gentlemen!”
The unit will leave on September 25, headed for Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas, and when pre-assignment training ends there, it will depart around the first of November for Kuwait. After Kuwait, it’s anyone’s guess, Gaumer said.
Frye is a native of Lenoir City and he and wife Nicky have three children. He’s a 2010 graduate of Lenoir City High School, where he played football, baseball and ran track. He’s also an adjunct instructor at the East Tennessee Regional Law Enforcement Academy at Walters State Community College in Morristown.
Gaumer and his wife, Ashley, have four children — Payton, Will, Theo and Rowan. He enlisted in the National Guard three years ago, and news of the deployment did not surprise him. “We heard a little about this back in February. I’m not real nervous about it, but being away from the kids and family that long makes me feel anxious,” he said. “It’s going to be hard for me.” Once he leaves, he says their home in Madisonville “will be quite the village. We have family and friends coming in to help Ashley take care of the kiddos and everything. We’re lucky in this regard.”
Jones is 21 and been with the LCSO for a year and in the TANG for three years. He says simply: “I’m excited to be going.” He’s a 2021 graduate of McMinn County High School.
If possible, we’ll pass along updates on these three East Tennessee heroes during their deployment.
As the sheriff said, “Godspeed gentlemen!”
Tom King has been the editor of newspapers in Texas and California and also worked in Tennessee and Georgia. If you have someone you think we should consider featuring, please email him at the link with his name or text him at 865-659-3562.